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Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa We set out on the road to Renaissance Tuscany, a scenic sanctuary inside the Serchio River Valley, and roughly over an hour drive from Florence. (Along the way, it's advised to make a day trip to the walled city of Lucca, which is approximately midway through the drive.) We delved deeper into the countryside through the Serchio Valley where for centuries, Tuscans lived a simple yet fruitful life, and still do. While making our way through the hairpin turns to Renaissance Tuscany, I had already begun to get a sense of the region's humble character. But it's not until I fully engulfed myself in the local rhythm that I would truly begin to understand. e first thing that hit me the moment I climbed out of my taxi— other than the unrelenting views of the Apennine Mountains—was the air quality. As if I had never truly breathed before, I felt my lungs fill to an unfathomable capacity. Set on nearly 1,700 acres of land, Il Ciocco as it was once called, has long been heralded as a home base for traversing the land and hunting. Over the decades, it would grow into a hotel that locals of the Lucca countryside would frequent. Eventually, they attracted tourists from all over the world and soon aer, received the Renaissance name and added a meeting space and spa among other things. e true allure of Il Ciocco comes from its location, which is characterized by 360-degree mountain views, Medieval villages and larger-than-life personalities, including the resort's General Manager, George Midleje, who never fails to remind you that Tuscany is one of the nicest regions in Italy. "It's old, there's real Italian people here," Midleje proclaimed over dinner. "It's quite organized compared to the South, but not overtly organized like the North. Tuscany is the center of Italy; it's a place that has everything: sun, beaches, mountains, lakes, history, cities—it's a very complete region. e people here are particular and very attached to their territory and the different areas of Tuscany." "You come to Florence, but that's not all there is to Tuscany," Midleje added. "e more you go in to the secondary cities like Lucca, you see why. is is an unexploited Tuscany. is is easy- going. Here, people truly live. ey relax. It's 12:30 p.m., the shops are closed. Why? Everyone is at home having lunch. is valley is like a picture. Aer just three or four days, you don't want to leave. It's truly another world." V U E N J . C O M 142

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